HUMZA Yousaf has expressed interest in creating a new Cabinet role to advance the case of Scottish independence in government should he become first minister.
The SNP leadership hopeful spoke to the Sunday National in-depth about his plans to achieve independence in the case that he wins the contest.
The Health Secretary argued that as the Government has been elected on a pro-independence platform, the SNP “shouldn’t be ashamed” about using those resources to further the cause.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf Q&A on advancing independence, snap election and more
It comes after Finance Secretary and fellow leadership candidate Kate Forbes suggested it shouldn’t be the Scottish Government writing the independence papers released by Nicola Sturgeon over the last year.
Forbes called for the party to take over that responsibility for building the prospectus for independence from the “British civil service”, arguing that “too few” people had been invited to contribute to the vision so far.
Speaking to the Sunday National, Yousaf disagreed with that approach. “Absolutely use the party, hear from the party and empower the party. Listen to the ideas around the independence prospectus,” he said. “But why on Earth would you not use the machinery of government to fund the cause?”
He went on: “Remember we’re elected on the platform of independence - perfectly legitimate for us to be using the Government to further that cause.
“I think it’d be exceptionally foolish to essentially disarm yourself of a really important asset in the way of the Scottish Government.”
READ MORE: Watch as SNP candidates quizzed at The National/SNP TUG hustings
And he suggested going further with a new Cabinet position to focus on the task.
“If I was first minister, hopefully as first minister, I’d be quite keen to have a Cabinet Secretary not just for the constitution – call it for advancing independence and the constitution,” he explained.
“I want it to be really clear that we’re not just going to be stuck in constitutional argy-bargy – I want it to be known that the role of that Cabinet Secretary has to advance the independence cause. We shouldn’t be ashamed about that.”
Following the Supreme Court’s judgment that the Scottish Government cannot hold a referendum without Westminster’s consent, senior UK ministers sought to block the Holyrood government from using public money on independence-related work.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said he would look into whether Holyrood officials could legally work on indyref preparation – despite another Tory minister suggesting the Scottish Government could money on whatever it likes.
Tory peer and minister Malcolm Offord said in a Scottish Affairs Committee hearing that UK Treasury funding comes “with no strings attached”, suggesting a Cabinet Secretary for Advancing Independence would not be blocked by Westminster. However, it would be likely to provoke a constitutional row.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel